Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, and the Kinabatangan River
Wildlife Adventures in Borneo
Overview
Orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, sun bears—Borneo's extraordinary wildlife is just as fascinating as its emerald-green rainforests. At Sepilok Forest Reserve, we'll walk among free-roaming orangutans, watching their upside-down vine-dangling prowess. From, our eco-lodge on the jungle-draped Kinabatangan River, we boat at dawn and dusk in search of primates and pygmy elephants along the rainforested banks. In the lowland forests of Tabin, we'll look for flying squirrels, Asian palm civets, Malayan civets, and pig-tailed macaques. Our grand finale finds us in the ancient wilderness of the stunning Danum Valley, with its incredible diversity of endemic animals in towering treetop canopies. Join us to discover one of the most biodiverse places on the planet!
Arrive: Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Depart: Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia
Highlights
- Walk among the free-roaming orangutans at Sepilok
- Explore during dawn and dusk rides on the wildlife-rich Kinabatangan River
- Meet with conservationists in Tabin Wildlife Reserve
- Experience the Danum Valley's world-famous primary rainforest
- Enjoy remote lodges with great access to wildlife
Itinerary
From Kota Kinabalu, we head to Sepilok Forest Reserve, where each morning at the reserve's feeding station, free-roaming orangutans come by for a morning snack and we can observe them. Sepilok was founded in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned orangutans and today about 60 orangutans live there. Young ones are paired with older ones, and over time, they are released to live in the wild. We'll walk the rainforest trails, cross a treetop canopy to watch sunset, and have a private visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
Winding down the Kinabatangan River by boat at dawn and dusk, we look for baby-faced pygmy elephants and tree-dwelling creatures along the banks. Ten primate species inhabit the Kinabatangan area, most of them endemic to Borneo. In Tabin Wildlife Reserve, we look for flying squirrels, Asian palm civets, Malayan civets, and pig-tailed macaques. Tabin is also one of Borneo's best birding areas, home to sought-after species such as the rhinoceros hornbill.
The Danum Valley, one of the world's most pristine rainforests, has off-the-charts biodiversity. Rare mammal species here include the Sumatran rhino, clouded leopard, and maroon-leaf langur. We set out on early morning canopy walks, watching the sun paint its colors over the jungle, hike to an ancient burial site, and enjoy night drives in search of flying squirrels and mammals on the hunt. Depart on Day 11 via Kota Kinabalu.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. For your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. We've crafted an active expedition, with nature walks and light hikes of two to five hours on several days, in hot and humid climate, and over a variety of terrain including forest trails, cave passages, and wooden canopy walks and boardwalks.
The terrain is relatively flat but the forest floor can be slippery and uneven (especially with tree roots!), and the trails in the Danum Valley include hills. We also explore Borneo's jungles and river wetlands by speedboats and longboats. Our explorations are timed with wildlife activity, so dawn, dusk and nighttime nature excurisons are a highlight of the trip, but you will need to be prepared for long days.
Borneo has a typical tropical climate of high heat and humidity, with the “dry season” spanning March to October, although afternoon showers can occur year-round. Daytime temperatures are typically in the high 80s and low 90s. Inside the rainforest, humidity is at 85-90% and can make temperatures seem even warmer.
Client Testimonials
"What a wonderful combination of thoughtful planning and outstanding leadership. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Wong at the sun bear rehab center and the opportunity to plant trees."
Bonnie B.
Bakersfield, CA
"Many aspects of this trip were magical, especially the time in the Danum valley and the river based lodge. The wildlife is wonderful and the guides very knowledgeable. It is a fragile corner of the world and well worth seeing"
Cindy M.
New York, NY
"Dean has a superlative and encyclopaedic knowledge that he shared with us, a gifted guide and true naturalist—the trip was full of marvels of nature and cultural sharing."
Melissa S.
Kailua-Kona, HI
"A unique experience—just a wonderful opportunity to see a beautiful part of the world."
Melissa S.
Kailua-Kona, HI
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.